The answer can't be too far off. It was after all, our ministries, our techniques, our packaging and pandering that created this new breed of believer. The solution must be close at hand. We know how to make 'em - the plans to reverse the process must be laying around here somewhere. (I smell a new Maxwell title right around the corner. "Leading Quail-Hungry Christians Out of the Wild, or, How to show the way - while you're choking on feathers.")
How could we have not seen it coming? We've been coached insistently on how to shape our ministries and messages into a fashionable faith for the Consumer Christian.
Who hasn't rolled out the Saddleback template? During it's hay day '40 Days of Purpose' banners hung from nearly every church in town. Ahh, Whatever World Assembly has no prophets, just marketing outlets.
Who hasn't applied the 'new math' drawn out by Barna's calculations. The numbers don't lie. the conclusion, though, do.
Rick Warren seems like nice guy but to base a philosophy, a ministry approach, a worship enviroment and message content on polling data gathered throughout neighborhoods asking, "What do you want church to look like?"... and then implementing it...! Man, we are some mad scientists.
Of course you'll fill the seats!...with consumers!
And they are all pretty s a v v y about the whole 'bait and switch' thing.
Our entire church growth strategy has been based on catering to the consumer. - and you've got to keep catering if you intend to keep them coming. Christian or Carnal, Disciple or Dabbler can all feel pretty comfortable at Whatever World Assembly.
Calls to lead these sweet church-goers into discipleship is certainly what is needed. But it's not going to be pretty.
What might be most troubling?...If we weren't keen enough to realize what kind of 'christian' we were creating - how can we assume to be the agents to bring Christ to the fore of the church-goer's heart and mind?...since it appears, He was so far from ours?
We may need to get some outside help.
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